Jose De Leon, a 30-year-old right-hander in the Minnesota Twins’ organization, combined with three relievers on an abbreviated perfect game as the Puerto Rico defeated Israel 10-0 in eight innings in Pool D play at the World Baseball Classic in Miami on Monday.
De Leon struck out 10 on only 64 pitches over 5 2/3 innings — a WBC record for longest perfect outing — as Puerto Rico improved to 2-1 in its pool, one-half game behind Venezuela (2-0). Puerto Rico plays the Dominican Republic in the final group-play game for both teams on Wednesday. The Dominican Republic is tied with Israel in third place at 1-1.
Yacksel Rios (Atlanta Braves) closed out the sixth inning before New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz and Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Duane Underwood Jr. pitched an inning each. Enrique Hernandez’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth ended the game via the WBC’s run rule.
Hernandez, currently with the Boston Red Sox, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Detroit Tigers infielder Javier Baez each had two hits and at least two RBIs in the win. No-hitters must be at least nine innings in order to be considered official per Major League Baseball rules.
Dominican Republic 6, Nicaragua 1
San Diego Padres star Juan Soto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs from the leadoff spot to help the Dominican Republic earn its first victory of the WBC, a rout of Nicaragua in Pool D play at Miami.
Cristian Javier of the Houston Astros started and pitched four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just two hits and a walk for the Dominican Republic.
Soto scored on a fielding error in the top of the first and homered in the sixth, while Padres teammate Manny Machado and Eloy Jimenez of the Chicago White Sox each added two hits and an RBI.
Elian Miranda drove in Steven Leyton on a single in the eighth to help Nicaragua (0-3) avoid the shutout.
Great Britain 7, Colombia 5
Jaden Rudd hit the go-ahead two-run double as the Brits rallied past Colombia in Pool C action in Phoenix.
After Great Britain (1-2) plated three runs in the fourth to knot the game 3-3, Rudd drove in Nick Ward and Darnell Sweeney to break the tie. Harry Ford added a solo homer and Ian Gibaut of the Cincinnati Reds gave up two runs in the top of the ninth before finishing up a two-inning save.
Dayan Frias hit a two-run single for Colombia (1-1), and Dilson Herrera had a solo homer in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
